U.S. patent number 4,634,035 [Application Number 06/588,275] was granted by the patent office on 1987-01-06 for skin stapler.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Cyanamid Company. Invention is credited to Lehmann K. Li, Michael Marra.
United States Patent |
4,634,035 |
Li , et al. |
January 6, 1987 |
Skin stapler
Abstract
The prior art discloses a surgical stapler having means for
forming a staple, and means for activating the forming means. The
forming means have an anvil surface terminating in a movable flange
and a track movably containing a forming blade. The improved
stapler of this invention comprises the activating means
cooperatively attached to the forming means, and the anvil surface
having a boss and the forming blade having an opening. The anvil
surface boss has an arcuate motion dependent on the linear motion
of the forming blade opening. Alternatively, the improved stapler
also comprises a formed staple stripping surface adjacent at least
two opposing sides of the anvil flange.
Inventors: |
Li; Lehmann K. (Fairfield,
CT), Marra; Michael (Fairfield, CT) |
Assignee: |
American Cyanamid Company
(Stamford, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
24353202 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/588,275 |
Filed: |
March 12, 1984 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
227/19; 227/23;
227/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
17/0684 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
17/068 (20060101); A61B 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/334R
;227/19,DIG.1,83,120,116 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
0069557 |
|
Jan 1983 |
|
EP |
|
8401706 |
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May 1984 |
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WO |
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189982 |
|
Jan 1967 |
|
SU |
|
Primary Examiner: Bell; Paul A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Costello, Jr.; Charles F.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A surgical stapler comprising a housing, means for forming a
staple, said forming means having an anvil surface terminating in a
movable flange and a staple forming track movable containing a
forming blade, said anvil surface having a boss and said forming
blade having an opening, said anvil surface boss having an arcuate
motion dependent on the linear motion of said forming blade opening
such that said boss moves into said opening as said forming blade
approaches said flange, and said boss moves out of said opening as
said forming blade retracts from said flange, a staple feed track
movably containing a plurality of staples in a point-to-crown
configuration, the holding portion of said feed track being
substantially parallel to said forming track and the distal,
escaping, portion of said feed track being in substantial alignment
with the distal portion of said forming track, and means for
activating said forming means said activating means being
cooperatively attached to said forming means.
2. A surgical stapler as in claim 1 further comprising a formed
staple stripping surface adjacent at least two opposing sides of
said anvil flange and wherein said stationary stripping surface is
contained on said housing.
3. A surgical stapler as in claim 1 wherein said housing has a
handle.
4. A surgical stapler as in claim 3 wherein said anvil surface and
flange is biased relative to said forming blade.
5. A surgical stapler as in claim 4 wherein said anvil surface and
flange is cantilevered.
6. A surgical stapler as in claim 5 wherein said boss moves into
said opening essentially after zero travel of said forming blade
toward said anvil flange such that said anvil flange is in
substantial alignment with said forming blade before or as the
distal portion of said forming blade contacts the proximal staple
from said plurality of staples.
7. A surgical stapler as in claim 3 wherein said boss moves into
said opening essentially after zero travel of said forming blade
toward said anvil flange such that said anvil flange is in
substantial alignment with said forming blade before or as the
distal portion of said forming blade contacts the proximal staple
from said plurality of staples.
8. A surgical stapler comprising means for forming a staple, said
forming means having an anvil surface terminating in a movable
flange and a staple forming track movably containing a forming
blade, said anvil surface having a boss and said forming blade
having an opening, said anvil surface boss having an arcuate motion
dependent upon the linear motion of said forming blade opening such
that said boss moves into said opening as said forming blade
approaches said flange, and said boss moves out of said opening as
said forming blade retracts from said flange so that said anvil
flange is in substantial alignment with said forming blade when
said boss is in said opening so that a staple can be formed on said
anvil flange by said forming blade, a staple feed track movably
containing a plurality of staples in a point-to-crown
configuration, the holding portion of said feed track being in
substantial alignment with the distal portion of said forming
track, and means for activating said forming means, said activating
means being cooperatively attached to said forming means.
9. A surgical stapler as in claim 8 wherein said boss moves into
said opening essentially after zero travel of said forming blade
toward said anvil flange such that said anvil flange is in
substantial alignment with said forming blade before or as the
distal portion of said forming blade contacts the proximal staple
from said plurality of staples.
10. A surgical stapler as in claim 8 wherein said anvil surface and
flange are biased relative to said forming blade.
11. A surgical stapler as in claim 10 wherein said anvil surface
and flange are cantilevered.
12. A surgical stapler as in claim 11 wherein said boss moves into
said opening essentially after zero travel of said forming blade
toward said anvil flange such that said anvil flange is in
substantial alignment with said forming blade before or as the
distal portion of said forming blade contacts the proximal staple
from said plurality of staples.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved surgical skin/fascia stapling
instrument. The instrument contains a plurality of staples, and
allows a single staple to be formed and removed from the
instrument.
An improved surgical stapler has been invented. The stapler
comprises means for forming a staple and means for activating the
forming means.
The forming means have an anvil surface terminating in a movable
flange and a track movably containing a forming blade. The
activating means is cooperatively attached to the forming
means.
The improvement comprises the anvil surface having a boss and the
forming blade having an opening. The anvil surface boss has an
arcuate motion which is dependent on the linear motion of the
forming blade opening. The boss moves into the opening as the
forming blade approaches the flange, and the boss moves out of the
opening as the forming blade retracts from the flange. The anvil
flange is in substantial alignment with the forming blade when the
boss is in the opening so that a staple can be formed on the flange
by the forming blade, and the anvil flange is taken out of
alignment with the forming blade as the boss moves out of the
opening.
In one embodiment, the anvil surface and flange is biased relative
to the forming blade. In another embodiment, the anvil surface and
flange is cantilevered.
In yet another embodiment, the forming means has a first track
movably containing a plurality of staples and the forming blade is
movably contained on a second track. In still another embodiment,
the boss moves into the opening essentially after zero travel of
the forming blade toward the anvil flange such that the anvil
flange is in substantial alignment with the forming blade before or
as the distal portion of the forming blade contacts the proximal
staple from the plurality of staples.
Another improved surgical stapler has been invented. The stapler
comprises a housing, means for forming a staple, and means for
activating the forming means. The forming means has an anvil
surface terminating in a movable flange and a track movably
containing a forming blade. The activating means is cooperatively
attached to the forming means. The improvement comprises the anvil
surface having a boss, the forming blade having an opening, and,
relative to the anvil flange, a formed staple stripping surface
adjacent at least two opposing sides of the anvil flange. The anvil
surface boss has an arcuate motion which is dependent on the linear
motion of the forming blade spring. The boss moves into the opening
as the forming blade approaches the flange, and the boss moves out
of the opening as the forming blade retracts from the flange. The
anvil flange is in substantial alignment with the forming blade
when the boss is in the opening so that a staple can be formed on
the flange by the forming blade, and the anvil flange is taken out
of alignment with the forming blade as the boss moves out of the
opening so that the formed staple on the flange can be stripped off
the flange by the stationary stripping surface.
In one embodiment, the housing has a handle. In another embodiment,
the housing has a magazine. In yet another embodiment, the
stationary stripping surface is contained on the housing, on the
handle, or on the magazine.
Other embodiments to the improved stapler are wherein the anvil
surface and flange is biased relative to the forming blade; wherein
the anvil surface and flange is cantilevered; wherein the forming
means has a first track movably containing a plurality of staples
and the forming blade is movably contained on a second track; and
wherein the boss moves into the opening essentially after zero
travel of the forming blade toward said anvil flange such that the
anvil flange is in substantial alignment with the forming blade
before or as the distal portion of the forming blade contacts the
proximal staple from the plurality of staples.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view showing the improvements,
and a means to control the movement of the trigger into the
handle;
FIG. 2 is an expanded side view of the lower portion of the
magazine circled in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an expanded, partially cutaway and perspective view of
the circled portion shown in FIG. 1, and showing the improvements
in an initial position;
FIGS. 4 to 6 are expanded, partially cutaway and perspective views
showing the improvements in an advanced, more advanced and
completed advanced position, respectively;
FIG. 7 is an expanded, partially cutaway and perspective view
showing the relationship of the improvements in position retracted
from FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, trigger 2 is fully extended from handle 1. In
FIGS. 1 and 3 (FIG. 3 is an expanded, partially cutaway and
perspective view of the circled portion shown in FIG. 1), the
instrument is in its rest or static condition. In FIGS. 1 and 2,
the loading of the staples 12 into the staple track 10 is by
feeding one staple behind the other in a point to crown
configuration.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the orientation of the magazine 1a (and
therefore the anvil shelf 9b in the magazine) to the handle 1
and/or the trigger 2 is not critical to the practice of this
invention. That is, the orientation can be essentially
perpendicular, (as shown in FIG. 1), parallel or oblique. Also, the
orientation of the anvil shelf 9b to the handle 1 and/or the
trigger 2 can be variable, e.g. by pivotally attaching the magazine
1a to the handle 1 and/or trigger 2.
The proximal ends of the anvil surface 9c and the hold back spring
15a can be separately or jointly imbedded in the magazine 1a by
techniques known in the prior art, e.g. by molding one or more
grooves in the magazine 1a.
Referring to FIG. 3, forming blade 5 is at its fully retracted
position. With the forming blade 5 in this position, raised cam 9a
on anvil surface 9 is out of the hole 5a of forming blade 5. The
anvil surface 9b is out of alignment with staple 12 and forming
blade 5. It is to be understood that the terms "cam" and "boss", as
used to describe element 9a, are synonomous. It is further to be
understood that the terms "hole" and "opening", as used to describe
element 5a, are synonomous.
Referring further to FIG. 3, hold back spring 15 is in its
undeflected position. There are two structurally and functionally
identical elements 15 shown in FIG. 3 for the hold back spring.
However, the elements 15 can be made as one piece. Also, the hold
back spring can be made as one structural element. Therefore, the
two elements 15 are jointly described as a hold back spring. The
first staple 12 in the column of staples rests on hold back spring
15.
Until the forming blade 5 moves the first staple 12, the hold back
spring 15 remains in its undeflected position and holds the column
of staples in the track 10. In this position the hold back spring
15 offsets a negatory spring force on the column of staples. This
negatory spring force is a permanent bias to the column of
staples.
The use of a negatory spring as a bias for a plurality of staples
is known in the prior art, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,406,392, FIG. 8 element 7 and FIG. 9. The use of a sinusoidal
advancing spring for a column of staples is also known from the
prior art, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,504, FIG. 4
element 41. These patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to FIG. 1, the forming blade 5 can be retracted by a
flange 5b on the proximal end of the forming blade. The flange fits
into a groove 2d in the trigger. The motion of the forming blade 5
is thus directly dependent on the motion of the trigger 2.
In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, as trigger 2 is compressed into handle 1, the
forming blade 5 is caused to advance in track 4 (shown in FIG. 2)
until the leading edge contacts the top of the first staple 12 in
the track 10. With advance of the forming blade 5, the anvil
surface cam 9a falls into hole 5a in the forming blade. This causes
the anvil surface 9 to relax from its flexed position. This
relaxation brings the anvil forming shelf 9b into alignment with
the staple 12 in the staple track 10 and with the forming blade 5
in the forming track 4.
Preferably, the cam 9a falls into hole 5a before or as the distal
portion of forming blade 5 contacts the first staple 12. This
functional relationship is preferred because it allows for the
anvil shelf 9b to be in alignment with the forming blade 5 and with
the first staple 12 before the first staple is stripped off the
hold back spring 15. That is, the anvil shelf 9b is in position to
receive the first staple 12 before the first staple is stripped off
the hold back spring 15.
The position of the anvil surface 9 and shelf 9b is dependent on
the position of the cam 9a to the opening 5a. That is, the linear
motion of the forming blade 5 causes the opening 5a to act on the
cam 9a. This action simultaneously causes arcuate motion of the
anvil surface 9 and the shelf 9b.
After the cam 9a moves into the opening 5a, the structural
relationship between the forming blade 5 and the anvil shelf 9b is
fixed, and they are in substantial alignment in the plane of the
forming blade's linear motion.
Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 7, the improved stapler can
have a means to control the movement of the trigger 2 into the
handle 1. An example of a control means is disclosed in U.S.
application Ser. No. 321,038 filed Nov. 13, 1981 now U.S. Pat. No.
4,458,835. These references are incorporated by reference. In these
references and as shown in FIG. 1 in this application, a trigger
ratchet pawl 2c indirectly contacts at least one cam 1b in handle
1. This pushes the ratchet pawl 2c into a ratchet 1c. With the pawl
2c held against the ratchet 1c, trigger 2 is held in its position
even though the trigger squeezing force is released.
Further, arm 2a supporting pawl 2c can be movably attached to
trigger 2, e.g. as shown in FIG. 1 pivot 2b. Alternatively, arm 2a
can be permanently attached to trigger 2 as shown in the prior art
references. Finally, as shown in FIG. 1 in this application, the
scalloping on the contacting edges of the handle 1 and trigger 2 is
optional. It is to be understood that these contacting edges can be
of any geometrical configuration, i.e. straight or contoured, which
will allow the trigger 2 to be compressible into the handle 1.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, further compressing of the trigger 2
into the handle 1 causes the forming blade 5 to further advance. In
FIG. 4, the staple deflects hold back spring 15, allowing
escapement of the first staple 12 from the column of staples. The
hold back spring 15 is held in its deflected position by being in
contact with a surface of the forming blade 5. In FIG. 5, forming
blade 5 carries staple 12 on track 10 forward until it is
positioned against the anvil shelf 9b. The trigger pawl 2c, as
shown in FIG. 1 and as disclosed in the above prior art references,
is engaged by a ratchet 1c during the motion shown in FIG. 4.
Referring specifically to FIG. 4, the staple track 10 continues to
hold the legs of the first staple 12 even though the points of the
staple protrude from the tip of the magazine 1a. In the preferred
embodiment, staple track 10 sequentially carries the first staple
12 from the column of staples to the anvil shelf 9b. However,
another embodiment can be that the first staple 12 in the column of
staples enters forming track 4 (shown in FIG. 2) and is then
carried on track 4 to the anvil shelf 9b.
The width of the anvil shelf 9b is equal to or greater than the
cross-sectional width of the staple 12. In many embodiments,
because the column of staples will be circular in cross-section,
the width of the staple will be equal to its diameter. If the anvil
shelf width is equal to the width of the first staple, the travel
of the anvil shelf 9b from the stripping surface 1d (on the
magazine 1a) to a position substantially in alignment with the
first staple 12 and the forming blade 5 is essentially equal to the
width of the anvil shelf 9b. If the anvil shelf width is greater
than the width of the staple, the travel of the anvil shelf 9b is
essentially equal to or less than the width of the anvil shelf.
As shown in FIG. 5, a surface of the forming blade 5 retains the
column of staples 12 in the staple track 10. In summary, and as
also shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, one side of the forming blade 5
holds the column of staples 12, and the other side of the forming
blade holds spring 15 from moving, after the forming blade 5 is
advanced past the hold back spring 15.
In FIGS. 1 and 6, the trigger 2 is squeezed into handle 1 to the
end of its stroke. This causes the forming blade 5 to fully
advance, which bends the first staple 12, around anvil shelf 9b
until it is fully formed. The forming of a staple around an anvil
flange is well known in the prior art, e.g. as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,014,492 issued Mar. 29, 1977, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
Anvil shelf 9b remains in alignment with the forming blade 5. The
two legs of the formed staple perpendicular to the crown are backed
by a staple stripping area 1b (more fully shown in FIG. 4) at the
distal end of magazine 1a.
The trigger ratachet pawl 2c becomes inactive as or after the
forming blade 5 is fully advanced. This is because the ratchet pawl
indirectly falls off the cam 1b, allowing the trigger 2 to return
to its initial rest position.
In FIG. 6, hold back spring 15 and the column of staples 12
continue to be held by the forming blade 5.
In FIGS. 1 and 7, the trigger 2 is released. This allows the
trigger 2 to return to its initial (fully opened) position. As
stated above in describing FIG. 6, this is because the trigger pawl
2c is functionally inoperative after the pawl rides over the cam
1b.
Referring specifically to FIG. 7, the forming blade 5 retracts.
This allows the hold back spring 15 to relax and move into its
initial rest position. In this position and after the forming blade
5 retracts a sufficient distance, the second staple in the column
of staples moves down the staple track 10 until it is arrested by
the hold back spring 15. It is to be understood that the remaining
staples in the column of staples simultaneously move down the track
with the second staple.
At approximately the end of the forming blade stroke, the anvil cam
9a is forced to ride out of the hole 5a. This causes the anvil
surface 9 and the shelf 9b to flex toward the position shown in
FIG. 3. As the anvil shelf 9b flexes, the formed staple 12 is
separated from the anvil shelf 9b by the stripping surface 1d (more
fully shown in FIG. 4) on the magazine 1a.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the bottom of the stripping surface 1d
is in a plane equal to or below one-half of the cross-sectional
height of the staple crown 12 (on the anvil shelf 9b). For a staple
having a circular cross-section, one-half the height is equal to
the radius.
* * * * *